<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This Schedule Contains Summary Financial Information Extracted From The Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Income found on pages 17 and 18 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 43,984 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 604,591 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 648,575 <PP&E> 13,124 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 719,794 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 101,699 <BONDS> 355,315 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 373 <OTHER-SE> 262,407 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 719,794 <SALES> 837,280 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 837,280 <CGS> 685,341 <TOTAL-COSTS> 685,341 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,150 <INCOME-PRETAX> 59,894 <INCOME-TAX> 23,690 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 36,204 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 36,204 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.01 <EPS-DILUTED> 0